The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-07-03
A GREAT LABOR LEAGUE.
THE GROWTH OF THE C1GARsfAKERH
LNTERNl TTONAL UNION.

fifth OF them nre in New York. It has grown
since It's fight with the Knights OF Labor until
its blue label In universally recognized. and Its
treasury contains a surplus OF almost 100000.
As far back as 1854 tho cigarmakers OF Balti-
mere. New York, Boston, and few other places
were organized In separate unions. They met
in 1864 through their delegates, and formed a
national union, which included the members Of
the hitherto separate unions and other local
unions that had been formed In the mean
time. In 1868 the name was changed to In
clude the cigarmskers Of Canada, and 1t was
henceforth known as the International Cigar
makers Union.
1t grew until 1870 from the 1000 or 5000
members,w with which 1t started. to 11O00. Then
1t began to lose ground. Wages were reduced.
and the men struck iniudiciously and too Of
ten. The finances OF the union became in
volved, and with O lack Of system and coheren-
cy in the organization the number OF the mem
bers fell of to 1,0l7 in 1877. 1t was then reor-
ganized at small convention at Rochester.
where only seven men-Samuel Gompers OF New
York, James Burke Of Rochester. james Walsh
OF Philadelphia, Herman Phillips of Cincinnati.
Kaufman Goldsmith. Frank Hirth OF Detroit.
and j. schol Of Chicago-were present. 1t was
sot it on its feet. Adolph Strasser was chosen
President. He has been reelected ever since,
and anances until it had 24,673 members last
January and surplus q $l72.sl3 in ITS treas
ury; The policy Of the old union was changed,
and by various alterations In the Constitution
30 perfected that the International Cigar:
makers Union ranks with the model unions Of
PASSED BY none except. possibly, the Amalga.
There arc some 500 local unions, and in each
one the initiation fees, dues, and benefits are
equal. Though there have been changes and
some increases since the formation OF the
Union the principle IN bsTdgns and
fee Is S., which may 30 paid In six weekly In
stallments, though member who has been
anes twenty {. each
DO RENTED under no circumstances while the
member continues working at his trade. For
strike, sick, and funeral benefits, Ar ont-oi i
S ss rn ss No SEX
eft for longer than sixteen weeks IN year Is
paid. The funeral benefit is $50. No life in
ecutve Board are considering the advisability
Of arrangng lie assnranoe made optional 81
w yaa tn the al sn
strike while the strike continues to be au-
The surplus funds are retained in the indi;
vidual unions. not massed under the control
OF the President, who1s allowed to keep, sub
ject to his own order, not more than $3.50 ut a
The constitution provides for sinking fund
Of S. for each member. That has been 30 well
kept UP that the present reserve smounts
to 81 a member, and an increase to $40 Is under
consideration. The funds arc not allowed to
accumulate In any special union, but are dis
oy o. ne Of its
ceipts-if 1t has oyer fifty Nom bers 20 per cent.
in salaries. hall rent, meetings, stationery.
rest can be spent on nothing else but benefits
or saved for the reserve fund, under penalties
nd sse ua
funds, of any union become low. the President
plus is larger to send OF their surplus to tho
poorer union, thus equalizing the funds, In
case of strike in one city. funds would be
sent from all other places to make good tho
loss, though the members OF the union on
strike would not be exempt from their pay
ments.
The salaries Of the officers Of the organiza-
mako by working at their trades, President
ss SIX First VICE Fe has
for h ke IA
gets SIS q week, with an assistant at SIS. The
shop collectors receive two per cent, for col
TSe Shoe saass IN ssss Of
some seven per cent; Of the re zee.
sion In tho Ggdr7nakers' OFFICIAL Journal, q
thy hnnf hS Sde
label has been repeatedly upheld by the courts
as tho property OF the union, and no cigar box
is printed in sheets Of ten under the direction
Of the Executive Board. and distributed
through the lSGal unionsto manuiactursrs free
labels LIB Is borne born, by the Union Though
n union
SUI es Gs' Rs II and t. sweny
smoked by workinGmen. though the proportion
Of them made by union mon Is higher than Of
SsTs ap eSs
cheapness Of the cigar being brought about
81, the saving the system Of sweating the mon
on blu. BY the
cigars, are recommended because made by a
first workman. a member OF the union.
IS ens snd
pamphlet Of thirty-one pages Of close print,
bound In paper the color OF the blue label.
every 200 members or maj ority fraction thereof
The Convention is held biennially, The dele
gates to the Convention have their car fares
hotel expenses. There are a President, seven
Vice p Pre- and treasure, who constl-
TUE tno Executive I30hTQ, ana near appeals
from the decisions Of the President on appeals
from the actions of various local unions
Three, mombers Of the three Oldest unions
are elected trustees. and in their, names
all accumulated moneys are deposited. Long
provisions are made for appeals. and the final
Of rests on EHe q tho
dent Is allowed to keep, $3.50 In his hands for
running expenses. Payments OF dues arc
made by the purchase of stamps. which are
pasted In the book which Is given to each man.
On this book no can got loans from his union
for small, amounts, and when trade is dull
where trade is better. dlgarmakers have been
loans must be paid or the debtor is posted in
print in the official journal. Any member not
paying his dues within eight weeks Is sis-
pended, unless he is out OF work. when he gets
sixteen weeks.
A long article OF twenty. Ave sections Is given
to the disconraging, Of strikes. No strike Is TO
be aided unless it has 5esn nnds with the APP
proyal of the Executive Board. to whom al the
facts must first he submitted. II the Execu-
two Board decide against the striking union,
II has fifteen days In which to appeal TO all tho
other unions. A full statement OF tho facts,
with. an estimate of the, cost and tho assess
ments that will have to BIO levied. Is mailed to
each union. The vote Is then taken, and 1t Ia